Internet and teledemocracy in participatory planning of natural resources management

• Published in: Landscape and urban planning Vol. 62; no. 2; pp. 89 - 101
• Main Authors: Kangas, Jyrki, Store, Ron
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 10-01-2003; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applications (e.g. Digitizing,...); Biological and medical sciences; Environmental decision support; Exact sciences and technology; Forest management; Forest management. Stand types and stand dynamics. Silvicultural treatments. Tending of stands. Natural regeneration; Forest planning; Forestry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Information and communication sciences; Information and communication technologies; Information science. Documentation; Information technologies: storage media, equipment; Natural resource management; Public participation; Sciences and techniques of general use; Teledemocracy; The Internet; Scandinavia; Europe; Finland; Natural resource management; The Internet; Environmental decision support; Forest planning; Public participation; Teledemocracy; Natural resources; Decision making; Telecommunication; Communication technology; Environmental management; Aesthetic perception; Social participation; Information use; Information network; Geographic information system; Decision aid; Internet; Resource management
• ISSN: 0169-2046; 1872-6062
• DOI: 10.1016/S0169-2046(02)00125-1

The widespread availability of Internet connections and the everyday aspect of the use of data networks provide many opportunities also for exploiting in planning and decision-making processes. The Internet can serve as a fast two-way channel of information. The possibility to use direct democracy via data networks so that the communication is interactive is referred to as teledemocracy. Teledemocracy is one way of adding citizens’ possibilities to participate in decision making. It enables, for instance, problems resulting from geographical insularity and long distances to be reduced in participatory planning and decision making, and the rapid registering of large numbers of opinions directly to computer memory.
In this paper, an application of participatory forest planning based on information networks is presented as well as experiences obtained in developing and using the application. Also the topics of teledemocracy and the possibilities to use information networks more generally in participatory planning are discussed. It is concluded that there are good chances for applying teledemocracy in participatory forest planning, and rapid on-going development in interactive telecommunication technology continuously increases its future potential. However, taking the technical and social facts of today into account, teledemocracy cannot replace other forms and channels of public participation. There are plenty of challenges to overcome before using information networks as the only communication channel in any application of democracy. Participation from afar in participatory forest planning does not need to compete or do away with direct participation, but instead it can be used to support and supplement traditional participatory and participation channels.